Police: Plantation killing not random

Attorney's body found in canal

March 12, 2008|By Brian Haas Staff Writer

Detectives no longer think that a murdered Plantation labor attorney was the victim of a random robbery, the city's police chief said Tuesday.

"The only thing I can say is this: Right now, at this time, this does not appear to be a random act of violence," Police Chief Larry Massey said. "We have about 15 people working on it and following up a very promising lead."

Massey declined to elaborate about developments in the investigation of the murder of Melissa Britt Lewis, 39, whose body was found in a canal Friday morning. He would not discuss a possible motive for the killing, and he would not say how well the killer may have known Lewis.

Debra Villegas, Lewis' best friend and co-worker, said dozens of people have been questioned in the case, including friends and family members.

"They have a long list of names of people to talk to that know her. I think they're just talking to everyone who knew her," she said.

Lewis' death spread fear in the community, especially after police reports that she might have been picked randomly by a robber who might have followed her from a neighborhood Publix store, the last place she was seen Wednesday night.

On Saturday, dozens of volunteers in the store parking lot handed out fliers advertising a $251,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Massey said he wanted to stem fears that a killer was stalking women in the community.

Police were first called to check on Lewis on Thursday after she didn't show up for work. When they arrived, Lewis' SUV was missing and there were signs of a struggle in her garage. Her body was found Friday in a canal near South Pine Island Road and North New River Canal Road less than two miles from her home.

Police immediately said Lewis appeared to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time when a robber decided to strike. Carrie Fisher, Lewis' sister, said the attorney carried Mace wherever she went and residue from the stinging spray was all over her SUV, which was found about a mile from her home.

Police have not revealed how Lewis was killed, though they originally said she did not appear to have any bullet or stab wounds when her body was found. Fisher has said that no blood was found in her sister's garage.

Lynn Haberl, one of Lewis' aunts, said relatives returned to her home Tuesday to plan her funeral. She said the public service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the Christian Life Center, 2699 W. Commercial Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. She was heartened to hear that police had come upon a promising lead in the case and hoped they'd hear good news soon.